Qcode,
I'm not sure how many ATCOs you've had the chance to talk to, but the first thing we're all taught on day one, and roughly about every hour on the hour after that is 'safety first'. There is a very obvious safety culture amongst UK ATCOs (I mention UK ATCOs as I only have experience of the training and operational culture in this country) at 'the coal face'. It has to be said that this is sometimes 'despite' rather than 'because of' our management/non-operational/Airport authority support.
No one segment of aviation/industry/life is perfect, and we do have our fair share of those who might not have the same enthusiasm, or order of priorities for safety as do most of us. I myself have sent reports direct to the CAA SRG and CHIRP as well as to my management, rather than just to my superiors.